Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space

It was said that the next day Miao Zhicheng would be taken to the Agricultural University for enrollment, but the actual departure turned out to be in the afternoon, around two or three o’clock.

And the reason, it tugged at the heartstrings.

This nephew, if it hadn’t been for Lin Lishan stuffing a prepared mosquito net into the luggage bag, it might have gone unnoticed that apart from the new clothes he had specifically changed into before coming, everything else was patched.

Plus, Miao Zhicheng’s luggage was extremely simple — a cloth bag with local products, a luggage bag, and a packed cotton quilt with a basin.

This arrangement wasn’t surprising. Every year, new students at the big university gates were like this; if not ninety percent, then eighty. Without tickets, it’s hard to move forward, so they bring whatever they can from home.

This is how the Zhou Family overlooked it.

Zhou Jiao remained indifferent as it wasn’t her business. Besides, the other party was an already employed man, so she paid him no extra attention.

And Lin Lishan? She was accustomed to having things handed to her. She had never dealt with such chores, and she didn’t think this nephew’s clothes seemed much inferior to the average person.

Upon seeing the patchwork clothes and pants in the bag, washed to a faded white, she whipped herself on the forehead a few times and went to find someone. Who did she seek?

When in need, find her daughter; she’s sure to handle it!

Thus the journey was delayed.

Thinking of Miao Zhicheng’s height over 1.7 meters, Zhou Jiao shook her head with a wry smile. Her dad and Zhang Guoqing were both tall, over 1.8 meters, and she’d always used their sizes as standards when buying men’s clothing. Finding such a small size was indeed difficult.

Fortunately, it was easier to alter larger to smaller; if it were the other way around, she would be really helpless.

Considering certain factors, Zhou Jiao did not intend to use new materials. She found military uniforms that fit her cousin’s size among the military supplies given by her godfather in the past and after slight modifications, completed a set of summer and fall outfits.

Then, she picked out a long-sleeved white shirt with a slightly skewed collar from Huaihai Old’s pile and adjusted it. Finally, he had some clothes to change into.

She rejected some of her mother’s silly suggestions; as a relative, Zhou Jiao felt this was sufficient. Didn’t you see that she and her husband were still wearing old clothes themselves!

"How much should I put in his red envelope? Your father let me decide," Lin Lishan lamented, scratching her head and looking expectantly at her daughter.

Zhou Jiao chuckled as she looked at her, "So what did you originally plan to give?"

"That kid is generous enough, giving Ping’an five bucks for pocket money. I can’t give too little, but too much wouldn’t be appropriate either. How about ten bucks?"

"Isn’t that quite well planned? Mom, I’ll add some food stamps later. He’s like a brother, having a monthly salary, money won’t be an issue."

"We must first ensure our own food supply."

Zhou Jiao shook her head at her with amusement. Am I that foolish? If it wasn’t for the other pampering my son, I wouldn’t even want to provide food stamps.

In the afternoon, a group of young lads and girls from the Eight Great Colleges in the Big Courtyard finally had the fortune to carry their luggage and board the military truck heading to the school.

"Which school are we going to first?"

"We’ll start with whichever we arrive at first. Kids coming in waves, somehow I feel I’m getting old. You all remember, study hard at school, don’t rush into relationships..."

The carriage erupted in laughter.

With a smile, Zhang Guoqing glanced at the opposite side and then asked a boy not far away: "Qian San, how many have entered the Agricultural University this year?"

"Brother Xiao Wu..." Qian Qilin shook his head.

"Haha, serves you right for not listening!" Ding Datou finally heard of someone having his head shaved. In these three years, only one eccentric emerged from the Big Courtyard. You’re a good military descendant, why are you running off to farm every day?

Zhang Guoqing gave him a push from behind. What a silly lad!

"My cousin just entered school, keep an eye out for me."

"How about transferring him to my dorm?"

Zhang Guoqing shook his head: "No need for that. You’ve all gotten acquainted, it wouldn’t be nice to ask someone to move."

Someone nearby chimed in: "Why not? What’s the big deal?"

Miao Zhicheng sat nearby with a smile, highly agreeing with his cousin-in-law’s words. Suddenly asking someone to move, who knows if it might offend someone. Better not cause trouble for Aunt over his own small matter.

Since he got on the vehicle earlier, he realized this bunch was proud and there were rules even for sitting. Even if he tagged along to sit here, he must remain aware of himself. They respected his cousin-in-law, otherwise, who’d care about you!

"Dato, help out and take the luggage back for me. I need to go to Agricultural University with Xiao Wu."

Ding Datou kicked him, "Go, go where with him! Why are you everywhere? The student council meeting is in the afternoon, you’re dead if you don’t go."

Yi Jiefang gently dodged, smiling: "I’ll surely rush over, it’s just that Xiao Wu is still here, I’ll let the bird hurry!"

"Da Yi, who’s bothering you guys? Let’s take them down!"

Yi Jiefang patted the buddy beside him, "Impulsiveness is the devil! Why take them down? If something happens, isn’t it fun to mess with them?"

"Really? We can eat anything, but we can’t be at a loss!"

Chatting casually all the way, they arrived at Agricultural University. Zhang Guoqing took down Miao Zhicheng’s luggage and didn’t ask Yi Jiefang and the others to alight, but entered the school with Qian San and others first.

Soon after, several student council members originally close with Zhang Guoqing came to help with quick registration, get the keys, and went upstairs to the dormitory.

After Zhang Guoqing waited for him to tidy the bed, seeing the matter settled, he placed a luggage bag on Miao Zhicheng’s bed, didn’t wait for his refusal, left contact information, and took leave.

His wife didn’t even know what she prepared, just instructed him to give the items to the other party. Judging by the weight, they should be clothes — truly unbelievable. Having to prepare these for another man!

Miao Zhicheng didn’t know a man was jealous. He opened the luggage bag, discovered the items inside, and then felt the red envelope in his pants pocket, sighing privately. Perhaps he shouldn’t have listened to his mom and gone to find Aunt, this time he owed a huge favor.

Thinking about the telegram sent by Ping’an in the morning, Miao Zhicheng considered and took out letter paper from the bag, beginning to detail his experiences after finding Lin Lishan.

He worried his parents might inadvertently reveal something causing trouble, so he deliberately concealed the Zhou Family’s situation, like how his uncle-in-law was a senior official and his aunt held a decent position. He only informed the family that his aunt was doing well, reassuring them, telling them not to worry, that they could rest assured, and that they would visit and pay respects to the elders if able to secure holidays by year-end.

After writing, Miao Zhicheng lay on the bed, staring at the brand-new, snow-white mosquito net, unsettled. His parents were worried about his aunt’s background being exposed and kicked out by her in-laws. He saw his aunt was living way too well. If in the countryside, just having a daughter would have long been expelled.

This point should be added to the letter. This way, his parents should be truly relieved! As for how uncle-in-law looks, better not mention, but could talk about Little Ping’an.

This letter was appended repeatedly by Miao Zhicheng, finally making up a registered envelope with six densely filled sheets sent to a cave dwelling on the western Loess Plateau.

An honest man held the letter paper with eyes red, apart from "good, good, good..." he couldn’t utter another word.

Making the second daughter returning to read the letter feel a pang of heartache; her father had always been redeeming for grandma, now he could be at ease.